Diederik Wissels is a Dutch jazz pianist and composer born on December 6th, 1960, in Rotterdam. He studied Jazz-piano and composition at the Berklee College of Music in Boston between 1978 and 1981. In the early years of his career, Wissels performed with prominent jazz musicians such as Joe Henderson, Kenny Wheeler, Philip Catherine,Toots Thielemans and Paolo Fresu. Wissels has collaborated with vocalist David Linx for almost three decades.Awards such as 'choc' and 'choc des chocs' by le Monde ,Django d'Or, Grand prix du Jazz were attributed to their cd's such as "Up Close", "Bandarkah", "Heartland", "This Time", "Whistleblowers".
Wissels has composed music for films directed by renowned filmmakers, including Nanni Moretti. He has also released several critically acclaimed albums on the Belgian record label Igloo Records. Some of his most notable recordings include "The Hillock Songstress", "From This Day Forward", "Streams", "Song of You", "Pasarela", "Secrecy", and "Yearn". These albums feature a diverse range of musical styles, from traditional jazz to more experimental sounds, and showcase Wissels' musical versatility and innovative approach to jazz piano and jazz composition. His unique style blends improvisation with sophisticated harmonic structures and lyrical melodies, creating a sound that is both innovative and timeless.
Wissels has been teaching Jazz-piano and Jazz-composition aswell as ensemble-playing at Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel since 1992 piano sharing his knowledge and experience with the next generation of jazz musicians.
Contact Diederik: